Top 10 Disney World Hotel Lobbies

One of the defining features of the best Walt Disney World hotels is their lavish lobbies. This may seem like hyperbole, as location, on-site perks, and theme are usually what convinces guests to book one resort versus another.

However, the hotel lobby is often what makes the first-impression upon arrival to Walt Disney World, that is often a lasting one. Disney likely recognizes this, which is no doubt part of the reason why so much money is invested into the resort lobbies, with Imagineers putting a ton of effort into creating beautiful environments.

To be sure, there are other ways that Walt Disney World hotels stand out from real world counterparts, but their highly-themed lobbies are among the biggest ways. These common area spaces are where we spend a lot of our time each trip, and are a huge reason why we resort-hop. Spending a bit of time in a Walt Disney World hotel lobby is a great way of soaking up its atmosphere, and also determining whether that’s a good resort for you to stay in during a future visit…

The best of Walt Disney World’s hotel lobbies feature ornate details, cozy furniture, towering atriums, and more; all of which makes them wonderful places and exemplars of themed design. These lobbies are like an attraction unto themselves, and are yet another place beyond the parks to enjoy while you’re on vacation.

With all of that said, let’s take a look at the 10 best lobbies at Walt Disney World…

10. Coronado Springs

The Spanish influences on Coronado Springs are apparent throughout this sprawling walkway, which is highlighted with a beautiful fountain under a large rotunda. Throughout the lobby, you’ll see mosaics, tile-work, and lighting all of which work together to give the lobby a rich amount of texture.

For me, the lobby at Coronado Springs feels a bit like a cross between an open air market and a festival. I’m not entirely sure why, but it has an exuberant kinetic energy to it, which is probably thanks to a combination of the layout, color choices, and festive music. Whatever the reasons, I always make sure to spend some time here when we stay at Coronado Springs.

9. Yacht Club

This lobby is probably the closest any of us will ever get to being members of an exclusive New England yacht club. Stately and well-appointed, Yacht Club’s lobby is the most ‘adult’ lobby in all of Walt Disney World, and feels elegant without the air of pretension.

The centerpiece of the lobby is an oversized globe, which has a turn of the century style to it. Here you’ll typically find the resort’s greeter, which is a nice touch. The theme here dictates a smaller and more intimate lobby, which does not have the same ‘wow-level’ impact, but Yacht Club’s lobby still shines. (Pro tip: if the lower level is too busy or crowded, take the stairs up to the seating area overlooking the lobby. Same set-up at Beach Club, too.)

8. Animal Kingdom Lodge – Kidani Village

I hesitated to include Kidani Village because (spoiler alert) Jambo House is higher up this list, and there’s not a ton that differentiates the two. Ultimately, I decided to include it, mostly because my alternative choice would have been Caribbean Beach, and it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to include that right now.

In its defense, Kidani Village is in a separate building from Jambo House. Beyond that, the biggest difference is the scale is significantly smaller, and everything about it feels more intimate. The design motifs are also different, and there’s a sense of vibrance and gaiety at Kidani that livens the mood up a bit (mostly via the whimsical ‘things’ pictured above). Otherwise, it shares the exact strengths and weaknesses of Jambo House.

7. Boardwalk Inn

Like the rest of the BoardWalk, the lobby here transports you back in time to an inn along a seaside amusement park. As with its neighbors around Crescent Lake, the highlights of BoardWalk Inn’s lobby are the details. From the miniature Boardwalk complete with rollercoaster to the beautiful light fixtures to the elephant statues, and more. It is extremely well-appointed, and a great place to just sit and relax in the morning.

Beyond the main details, you’ll find a lot of texture in the carpeting, furniture, and decorations around the fireplace. Some of this is, admittedly, a bit on the bizarre side (who knows, maybe this boardwalk had a freakshow?!), but it’s all in good fun. Albeit not technically part of the interior lobby, we love sitting out back on the wicker chairs, watching the hustle and bustle of the BoardWalk.

6. Polynesian Village

Following its recent refurbishment, the Polynesian’s lobby has become the most divisive at Walt Disney World. Most people loved the old lobby, with lush vegetation and a huge waterfall as the centerpiece. Opinions are more mixed on the newer layout, which features an open floor-plan with large Tiki statue greeting guests. While we liked the old lobby more, we don’t believe the new design is the travesty some fans have made it out to be.

The lobby still maintains the same vibe as the original, which was the intersection of the South Pacific tropical culture and tiki kitsch. There’s still a wonderful scent in this area and the feeling of being in the tropics thanks to the colors, greenery, and design choices. Perhaps the biggest drawback of the lobby is that most of the time, it fails to convey the serenity of the tropics. The second floor is pretty raucous thanks to guests waiting at ‘Ohana and Kona Cafe, and there’s very little to absorb or mask sound (say, perhaps a water feature… 😉 ). Still, it’s beautiful, and at its best does capture the feeling of being in the South Pacific.

5. Grand Floridian Villas

From a subjective perspective, I’d be inclined to rank the Grand Floridian Villas’ lobby even higher. On a couple of our trips last fall and winter, we spent an inordinate amount of time sitting in this lobby working on our laptops, enjoying espresso and the peaceful atmosphere. It offers much of the same opulence of the Grand Floridian, but with a fraction of the foot traffic.

The highlight of this all is unquestionably the fountain in the center, whimsically adorned with penguins from Mary Poppins. This is not only pretty and fun, but also a way of adding nice white noise. Other details provide charm and elegance, and it all is reminiscent of a bygone era without any of the tired feeling that sometimes can be found at the Grand Floridian. What it lacks in grandiosity it makes up for with literally everything else.

4. Animal Kingdom Lodge – Jambo House

Walt Disney World fans joke that Animal Kingdom Lodge is like Wilderness Lodge: Africa Edition. Beneath the surface of that joke, there’s plenty of truth. Both lodges use the same sense of breathtaking scale, high ceilings, and rich cultural details that attempt to transport guests to another place.

While not as transportive as Wilderness Lodge (in my opinion), Jambo House compensates for that with a greater aura of authenticity. The galleries and various pieces of art were curated with an eye towards showcasing depictions of African culture. This is good in the sense that it’s all very fascinating and a joy to explore, but showcasing another place is not the same as being in that place.

With that said, there is a ton of beauty and museum-quality art, and the lobby itself is basically a work of art. On top of that, the rear of the lobby has a balcony seating that overlooks the savanna where the zebras, giraffe, and dozens of other animal species can be seen. Just one of the many reasons Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of our top picks for Walt Disney World.

3. Grand Floridian

The Grand Floridian’s lobby is grand. It’s a grandiose lobby filled with breathtaking grandeur and perhaps a tad too much grandiloquence. (Sorry, couldn’t help myself.) Joking aside, the lobby of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa has all of the Victorian elegance and sophistication you’d expect of Walt Disney World’s flagship resort.

While at times it can feel a bit haughty or slightly antiquated, it does an excellent job of conveying the resort’s theme and general atmosphere. This is accomplished via vibrant fresh-cut flowers, beautifully-detailed carpet, ornate furniture, and details–big and small. The larger ones include the giant birdcage elevator, grand staircases, and live musicians (pianist on the ground level or the orchestra on the second floor). And this is on a “regular” day, when it’s Christmas season and that giant gingerbread house is in the lobby, the Grand Floridian dials things up to 11.

2. Wilderness Lodge

Wilderness Lodge’s lobby is transportive in a way that no other lobby at Walt Disney World can match. Entering this lobby is leaving Florida and checking into a National Park lodge in the Pacific Northwest. It doesn’t matter if it’s 95 degrees and humid in the outside world, sitting in front of the fireplace at Wilderness Lodge just feels right. At Christmas-time, sitting under that grand tree, you get the feeling that it could very well be snowing outside the door.

This suspension of disbelief occurs in Walt Disney World’s greatest environments, and is a result of a carefully-crafted illusion. In the case of Wilderness Lodge, that illusion is built upon meticulous attention to detail. Massive wooden beams supporting the building; brilliant chandeliers that look remarkably authentic; giant totem poles; fireplaces; beautifully-upholstered furniture; the list goes on and on, and trying to be exhaustive is a fool’s errand, as there’s always a new detail I notice with each visit. Thematically-speaking, this is far and away the best lobby at Walt Disney World. However, it’s still not the best-best…

1. Contemporary

A lobby is a corridor or hall connected with a series of rooms and used as a passageway or waiting room, such as a foyer. Definitionally-speaking, a lobby is not necessarily at the entrance to a building. I’m not just defining terms for fun (although I do partake in that joyous hobby from time to time), but because I think it’s critical to ‘defending’ my pick here. The Contemporary’s grand atrium is not at its (fairly dull) ground floor entrance near the check-in desk, it’s on the fourth floor.

The fourth floor Grand Canyon concourse “technically” meets the definitional requirements of the word lobby. More importantly, it’s the area of the hotel that most closely parallels the other top entries on this list. The only thing it lacks is check-in desks. Big deal. Not one single entry onto this list made it due to its breathtaking check-in desks. Those are a non-factor as far as I’m concerned. (Although, I guess, reasonable minds may vary…perhaps you’re a big check-in desk fan?)

The Contemporary’s lobby earns the #1 spot here because it is the most quintessentially Disney. Brilliant engineering, monorails whizzing through, a beautiful mural by Disney Legend Mary Blair, one of Walt Disney World’s most recognizable restaurants, and a modern design-aesthetic. Can you imagine the conversation that ensued when one of the Imagineers explained that they wanted the monorail–a state of the art transportation system at the time–to pass through an A-frame hotel?!

Out of all the lobbies on this list, the Contemporary’s is the one with the most originality. It’s also the that makes the most indelible impression on the most guests, even those not staying at the resort. I vividly recall gliding through this lobby even as a kid, and the impact it made on me even then. The Grand Canyon Concourse has a true sense of Disney magic to it, and as such, it’s our top pick for Walt Disney World lobbies.

Your Thoughts

Do you agree or disagree with our rankings of the best Walt Disney World hotel lobbies? Do you think the Grand Canyon Concourse ‘counts’ as a lobby? Any favorites we missed? Hearing feedback about your experiences is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

Related Posts

My first trip to WDW as a kid included a stay at the Contemporary. It holds a magical nostalgia for me since, as a 6 year old, I stared up at the ceiling of that massive structure in awe, and I marveled at the idea that trains, let alone monorails, could travel right through a hotel. However, since my most recent visit and stopping off for a late evening in the Contemporary, I was incredibly underwhelmed. It feels incredibly dated and the whole concept of the building feels like a period piece of misguided 80s architecture.

For me the sense of place of the two AK lodges is by far the most evocative, and since some of my favorite restaurants are located there the pictures are enough to not only provide a whimsical interpretation of an over the top african lodge, but they make my mouth water too.

Wilderness Lodge is one of the few Disney resorts we have never set foot in, so my personal #1 would be AKL (lumping both sides together), with GF as #2 mostly due to the piano player. The monorail puts the contemporary at #3.

Beach Club/Boardwalk/Coronado/etc. are all “fine” but a significant step belof those 3, for me.

This is a *FANTASTIC* list with all the right choices, including and especially the Contemp’s fourth-floor atrium. We used to stay in the Contemporary all the time as a kid, and I never quite got over how special it is. Most remarkable — I had the chance to stay there again in recent years … and it still *smelled* the same. Chills.

Also, the Wilderness Lodge lobby is fantastic. I’m more of a Disneyland homer these days, and I find myself spending an inordinate amount of time in the Grand Californian lobby — and let’s be honest, the Hearthstone Lounge for cocktails!!!

Before reading your article, my wife said “Oh God, that’s right up your alley”, based on the ridiculous amount of time I spend (in her opinion) within Disney’s hotel lobbies.
I predicted you’d choose the Wilderness Lodge as your favorite, unless you considered the Contemporary’s atrium as a lobby (correctly), in which case it would get the nod.
Boom!!!

I agree with your top pick. Love a hotel with a monorail going through it with that awesome MB murial. I hope that if they do a “refresh” it will to be to restore it to it’s previous 70s glory. The 70s needs to be represented more, it was one of the best decades.

Great list but I was a little surprised to see Port Orleans French Quarter didn’t make it! The adorable greeter alone should have made it at least at 10. The first time I walked in there, I was in awe. It was subdued enough to not be in your face about the Mardi-gras theme but was themed enough that I felt like I was outside in New Orleans. The attention to detail really makes you forget that you’re checking into a hotel. Not to mention all the glass windows really add to the feeling on not being in Florida anymore because you see outside and see all the cobblestone and the buildings and streets. Once you’re in that lobby, you’re completely immersed. Just my opinion anyway 🙂 I love reading your blog!

POFQ is a tough one for me. I love the atmosphere and transportive nature of the resort, but for me, that is accomplished (mostly) once you pass through the lobby and walk along those lovely streets between the buildings.

I know that might be totally different for others, but that’s my favorite thing about French Quarter, and what really impacts me at the resort!

From the photos I have seen, I would like to do the Wilderness Lodge some day. It definitely looks interesting. I think, though, we decided our next stay will be at Port Orleans French Quarter. We were actually booked there for Jersey Week 2017, until I got an email from Disney good for an upgrade to Animal Kingdom Jambo House that was too good to pass up.

Jambo House has a pretty cool lobby. My only regret is that when we stayed there, it was a short (5 day) stay and we spent most of the time in the parks. It was only the day before our departure day that we spent more time at the resort than the lobbies.
I keep saying that Jambo House is the only deluxe I’ve ever stayed in (our other stays a family have been Art of Animation, Little Mermaid Room, and All Star Movies), but then I recall literally half a lifetime ago staying at the Grand Floridian with my life long friend (a very drunken trip).

After reading the blog for the last couple of years I figured Wilderness Lodge at #1 and Jambo House at #2. Still throwing us regular readers curve-balls.
The Contemporary was definitely a left-field choice, but I remember as a kid seeing footage of the monorail going through the A-Frame and wished the DL monorail would let me see inside the Disneyland Hotel the same way. Truly unique.

We stayed at Animal Kingdom for the first time the other night and…WOW! Sooooo beautiful. We were a bit disappointed that they gave us a savanna room that must be one of the ‘dud’ rooms, but other aspects of the hotel made up for it. We’re back at our favourite, the Dolphin and then off to the Yacht Club in another few days. Enjoying our first holiday season here!

The Dolphin is apart of Disney in that it is on Disney property (and walkable to the Crescent Lake resorts, Hollywood Studios, and EPCOT) but it is not owned/managed by Disney – it is owned by Sheraton.

Darrell F. J. WhiteDecember 4, 2017

Ok so similar to the 4 seasons. Thank u

GarrettDecember 3, 2017

Went to the contemporary for the first time this year….reminded us of an outdated airport. I was surprised how underwhelming it felt. Maybe outdated mall would be more accurate? Perhaps it just needs a refresh?

It *definitely* needs a refresh. Part of the problem is that rather than giving it that about a decade ago (and a decade before that…), they just added stuff on top of the old, so it has a hodgepodge feel to it–like an old mall.

Still, there’s something (for me at least) about the monorail gliding through, the mural, and the whole concept of it all. Maybe I’m overvaluing the novelty…

Years ago, I would have put the GF lobby at number one. If elegance is what you’re looking for, the GF has it. Today though, the number one slot (IMO) would go to Wilderness Lodge, with its Northwest Territory/Grand Canyon architecture. (Apparently, my tastes have evolved over the years).

Just returned from a trip to the World yesterday. Had dinner at the Wave, located on the lobby floor of the Contemporary. I would never consider the fourth floor concourse as their lobby, and don’t know anyone who has. It’s always been the fourth floor concourse, and always will be (at least for me). Granted, the mural is beautiful, but a mural does not a lobby make.

Only ever visited the Cont for a meal, but we always considered that area to be the lobby. It’s where the action is!

Darrell F. J. WhiteDecember 3, 2017

What draws me most to the GF I think is that it was built to reflect Mainstreet USA with the victorian architecture. Since Im a Magic Kingdom kid at heart I think for me the GF is always going to be my home away from home 🙂 And that lifesized gingerbread house 🙂 🙂

Good list; I’d change the order of a few items: I’d put Wilderness Lodge at #1 and I’d promote the Poly to #2. I also liked the Poly’s original lobby better than the new version, but find the change is mild enough to make little difference to my bottom line. I’d drop the Contemporary way down the list: for me at least the only point in its favor is the monorail running inside. By itself that’s enough coolness to put it somewhere on this list, but not very high up given that its theme is “every other modern hotel everywhere.” I tend to think a Disney hotel ought to have a more “otherwhere” theme than that.

I agree with you 100% about the #1 lobby. For us the Wilderness Lodge has the most peaceful, beautiful, and comfortable lobby. Our #2 is the Grand Floridian, especially at Christmas. Any time of the year the couches are so comfy and the ambiance is wonderful. I tend to feel under-dressed when I’m there though since we’re pretty casual folks.

Grand Floridian lobby #1, and as you say “dials it up to an 11 at christmas”. What other lobby boasts its own grand piano player, in house orchestra, and giant bird cages 🙂 Park goers from all over come to the GF lobby.

Another gem Top 10 List. Although my order maybe different, your thoughts about each lobby are spot on. I have never been to GFV. WL and AKL – JH are 1 and 2 on my list respectively. When I walk into those 2 lobbies, I became wide-eyed and my jaw drops in amazement. I bump PV to #3 because although it maybe raucous at times, I love the festive vibe of the lobby. I move AKL – KV to #4. I dropped GF to #5 because it is indeed a tad too grandiloquence for my taste. I am agree with the order of BW, YC, and CS. Before I read this list, I would not have even considered Contemporary in my Top 10. As an adult, I dislike the boring dull concrete theming of this resort so much that it clouded my judgment of the lobby. After reading your post, I would consider moving it to my Top 10 because I was in awe of the lobby while riding the monorail as a kid plus I like the Mary Blair mural.

I have to admit that ranking the Contemporary #1 sort of requires viewing it in a design-vacuum, and with youthful nostalgia. The reality of actually *being there* is not quite as pleasant: it’s loud, they’d added a garish gift shop, and did I mention that it’s loud?

I really wish they’d de-clutter the Grand Canyon Concourse, and give it a modern aesthetic inspired by what was there in the 1970s and 1980s (albeit with updated colors and styles). If you look at older photos, it was truly a gem then–a nice and relaxing place to actually spend time.

We stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge -Jambo House- this past summer. The lobby is breathtaking… the hardwood floors, the fire pit and all of the colorful African artifacts combined with the big picture window which overlooks the lush landscaping is truly a feast for the senses. This hotel demands a week long stay for any Disney fanatic! Great post Tom, I couldn’t agree more.

You’re spot on with that comment! We recently took a Florida beach vacation to Sanibel Island but stumbled upon a great, last second deal for three nights at the Animal Kingdom Lodge (Jambo House). Since it was a “relaxing” beach vacation, we decided it would be a no-parks Disney stay. With the exception of an Ohana breakfast and a quick stop at Disney Springs, we never left Jambo House. So much to do and see (and eat) at the resort alone. The kids loved every second and so did my wife and I. The fact that it is so isolated from the other resorts and parks made it the perfect resort for that type of trip!